The West Plains tennis team is still searching for wins after dropping four of its most recent matches, but a few younger players are starting to break through at the varsity level.
The Zizzers fell 6-3 to Licking on Tuesday and 9-0 to Lebanon on Monday at the West Plains High School courts. Earlier in the month, the team dropped an 8-1 road match to the Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty Eagles and suffered a 9-0 home loss to the Marshfield Blue Jays on April 7.
Despite struggling to put team wins on the board, West Plains Head Coach Nathan Huddleston said there are signs the program is moving in the right direction.
"We do have some young players coming up,” Huddleston said.
During the Licking match, Huddleston moved sophomores Carter Smith and Travis Mahurin into the No. 3 varsity doubles spot, and the duo capitalized by earning their first varsity win. Smith then turned around and secured a varsity singles victory from the No. 6 spot.
“Our up-and-coming players are improving quickly and already making a difference this season," Huddleston said. "It makes the future of Zizzer tennis look brighter.”
The Zizzers will look to bounce back when they host the Hillcrest Ravens on Tuesday. Fans should note a schedule change for the event: The match time has been moved up to 3 p.m. at the West Plains High School courts.
